I'll be available to help in WA. Just now, I'm up to my ears in the MAI campaign. In case you guys have not seen it, I'm attaching a sign-on letter which is self-explanatory. Please endorse it yourselves and also send it out to relevant networks. It's already been endorsed by ACF, Beatrice Faust, Helen Caldicott, the Human Rights Council, many unions, academics in all fields, etc. Friday 16th is the cut-off date. Cheers Brian JenkinsTitle: Stop MAI coalition Letter
Stop MAI coalition Letter
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***PLEASE REPOST TO RELEVANT NETWORKS *** This is an Australian letter for sending to Paris on Friday, 16 October, in time for delivery to the OECD before the MAI negotiations recommence on Tues 20 October. If there is enough financial support, we can also publish it in the national and/or State press. Please forward this text and seek endorsement by as many groups and individuals as possible, including representatives of churches, unions and other civil organisations, lawyers, academics, sympathetic parliamentarians, etc. There is a voluntary option of donating a small sum toward the cost of advertising the letter in newspapers. Please send to your contacts and request that they do likewise as quickly as possible. To endorse the letter they need only email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with Subject: ENDORSE and the name(s) and designation of signatories in the body of the message. Alternatively, fax a signed copy or authorising message to Stop MAI (WA) at 08 9335 7646, or mail to the undersigned. (These instructions are repeated at the end.) This action is initiated by Stop MAI (WA) Campaign Coalition, an open public-interest group, independent of political parties, supported by unions, Community Aid Abroad, the Rural Action Movement, environment and human rights groups, etc. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Letter for endorsement by individuals and organisations, for urgent return by 16 October, 1998 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Chairman, MAI Negotiating Group, OECD Paris, France through The Hon John W Howard, Prime Minister of Australia Parliament House, Canberra. Dear Sir, We consider the draft Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) to be damaging to Australians' sovereignty and parliamentary independence. We urge that it not be proceeded with. The purpose of the MAI is to regulate governments as a means of liberalising investment. The draft MAI treaty unacceptably elevates the rights of transnational corporations above those of elected governments, communities, citizens, workers and the environment. This is totally unacceptable. MAI negotiations have been conducted by governments representing the 29 OECD countries, which are the richest countries in the world. Participation of non-OECD countries and organisations representing the interests of workers, consumers, farmers, the environment, social justice and human rights has been minimal. WE CALL ON THE OECD AND THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA TO: * Undertake an independent and comprehensive assessment of the social, environmental and developmental impact of the MAI with full public participation. The negotiations should be suspended during this assessment; * Require multinational investors to observe established standards of environmental protection, labour, health, safety and human rights; * Put into place open dispute-resolution mechanisms for determination in Australian courts of law; * Give the community effective new powers to hold investors to account; * Ensure that governments do not have to pay for the right to set environmental, labour, health and safety standards, even if compliance with such regulations imposes financial obligations and losses on investors; * Reject any terms which restrict the right of elected governments to improve standards and/or to effect withdrawal from the MAI under reasonable notice, e.g., six months. In sincerity and trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Signed and Dated) Add designation, organisation name, etc, and details of (optional) advertising donation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Stop MAI coalition seeks endorsement by as many significant citizens as possible, including representatives of churches, unions and other civil organisations, lawyers, academics, sympathetic parliamentarians, etc. Individual signatories are invited also to consider forwarding a (voluntary) donation of $10 or $20 toward the cost of advertising the letter in newspapers. Non-donor participation is equally welcome. Please paste or forward this message to your contacts and request that they do likewise as quickly as possible. To endorse the letter, you need only email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with Subject: ENDORSE and the name(s) and designation of signatories in the body of the message or fill in the form below. Alternatively, fax a signed copy or authorising message to Stop MAI (WA) at 08 9335 7646, or mail to the undersigned. Brian Jenkins For Stop MAI (WA) 14 Crowcombe Way Karrinyup 6018 Western Australia Phone +61 (0)8 9246 3882 Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
http://www.avid.net.au/stopmai
